Chinese Aircraft Carrier Transits Taiwan Strait, Heightening Regional Tensions

TAIPEI: A Chinese naval fleet, led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier, passed through the Taiwan Strait, as confirmed by Taiwan's Defense Ministry. The passage, which occurred on Tuesday night, was reported by the Taipei-based Central News Agency and has been closely monitored by the Taiwanese military. According to Kuwait News Agency, the fleet sailed north from the vicinity of the Dongsha Islands, also known as the Pratas Islands. In response, Taiwan's military utilized its joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, taking appropriate measures to track the fleet's movement. The transit follows recent Chinese live-fire drills conducted near Niushan Island in Fujian province, the closest Chinese coastal point to Taiwan. Earlier this month, on October 14, China executed large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, shortly after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te delivered his National Day address on October 10. The Taiwan Strait remains a region of high tension, as Taiwan, which separated fr om China after a civil war in 1949, is regarded by Beijing as part of its territory. The recent military activities by China have added to the longstanding geopolitical tensions in the area.